Cigarette dispenser and lighter



March 20, 1 51 P. J. ZANARDO 2,545,936

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND. LIGHTER- Filed Nov. 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 20, 1951 P. J. ZANARDO 2,545,936

CI GARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Nov. 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 20, 1951 P. J. ZANARDO CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 March 20, 1951 ZANARDQ 2,545,936

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Nov. 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 20, 1951 P. J. ZANARDO 2,545,936

I CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Nov, 10, 1947 i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LY/Maw 2 6/6 f mmra;

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,545,936 I CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER v I Peter J. Zanardo, Chicago, Ill. I Application November 10, 1947, Serial No. 785,087

3 Claims. (01. 312 86) not a fire hazard.

A further object. is to provide a combination cigarette container, lighter and single delivery dispenser adapted for household use wherein the lighter ,is energized from the house electrical current: and a second type adapted for automobile use and the like, the lighter being operated from the vehicle battery.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this disclosure and in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation and partly in section of a combination cigarette container, lighter and single delivery dispenser of the houshold type according to the instant invention.

Fig. 1a is a detail view in side elevation of the lighting mechanism in operative position.

Fig. 2 is atop plan viewof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 1a showing the electric switch closed to energize the lighter element.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the switch in two positions, open and closed, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure similar to Fig. 2 but with the cover removed.

Fig. 6 is a view of the structure of Fig. 5 in side elevation and partly in section disclosing the electric lighting mechanism.

Fig. '7 is a View in side elevation of the ash container employed.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of Fig. 7 in a position at right angles thereto.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation and on a reduced scale of a cover plate employed.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation and partly in section of a modified form of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, adjustable parts being shown in two positions, this type adapted for automobile use.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail view showing a modified form of electric switch and operating arm therefor.

vlarged, of a further modified form for automobile Fig. 14 is a detail view partly in section of a slide lever employed.

' Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form of cigarette container, lighter and dispenser of the type adapted for automobile use. 'Fig. 16 is a top plan view of Fig. 15, with cover, on a reduced scale.

. Fig. 17 is an elevational view of Fig. 19.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal cross sectional view through Fig. 15 on the line l8-|8.

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view on the line l9-l9 of Fig. 1'7.

Fig. 20 is a view in front elevation of the cover and hinge, the hopper being omitted.

, Fig. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view, en-

use.

Fig. 22 is a side view of Fig. 21 on a reduced scale.

Fig. 23 is a front or end view of Fig. 22, and,

Fig. 24 is an enlarged detail view of actuating mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive the reference numeral I denotes a housing having side walls 2, 3 and a rear wall 4 that extends to the base 5 and a front wall 6 that extends from the top of the housing slightly more than onehalf way to the base, all walls at their upper termination being in a common plane and receiving and supporting the cover 1 forming an ash tray and provided at its corners with somewhat trough shaped cigarette rests 8, the said side walls having forwardly extending diminished portions 2a, 3a. Within the housing and extending from side to side thereof and secured by its upturned end 9 to the rear wall 4 at a point slightly above the housing center is the forwardly and, downwardly inclined partition l0 extending well beyond the front wall 6 and in materially spaced relation thereto and terminating therebeyond in the recessed forward edge II.

Slidably disposed upon the partition I0 is the delivery plate [2 only the ends thereof engaging the partition, the plate proper being increasingly spaced from the partition from its rear termination to the point I3 and forwardl therebeyond inclined somewhat abruptly to the partition, the forward termination of plate I2 in the foremost position thereof being disposed substantially in line with the lower end of front wall 6, the rear edge of that plate disposed in spaced relation to the wall 4 at all times. Secured to the inner face of wallB at its upper end is the angular positioning plate I4 that extends downwardly and then rearwardly to a point ii at approximately the vertical center of the housing and therebeyond is bent forwardly and downwardly terminating substantially in line with wall 5 and in slight spaced relation thereto, said wall [4 end being spaced also from the forward end of the delivery plate l2 a distance but slightly greater than the diameter of a cigarett and spaced also from the thin rod or pin I6 connecting the side walls 2, 3 located slightly above partition I and inwardly of butcontiguous to theplane' of wall 6.

An angular link IT works through slot 18 in wall 2 to connect plate I2 and bellcrank lever I9 fulcrumed to the outside of said wall upon the pin 26. The reduced portions 211,311, of walls 2,3 are formed inwardly from their forward terminations with recesses contiguous to the I corners-of the recessed forward edger III-of partition ill-to receive a guide ear 2| and exterior pocket 22 of the removable cigarette receiver and ash tray- 23' the wall of which coincides with the forward edge of partition in, the wall extension 2a formed with a perforation 24 in line with the recessed upper edge of pocket 22 and contiguous thereto and secured to, the wall extension by screws-2'5, 2B.is the ignition element 2?, grounded to stud 25. Lead 23 runs to. a house current outlet-from the transformer 29 from which lead 30 runs-toswitch arm 3| mounted to switch. block 32 from which runs resilient switch arm 33' provided with contact 34, said switch arm 33' connected bylead' 35 to the transformer. On switch arm 31 is contact 35 for engagement with contact 34 of switcharm 33. Running. also from the transformer is the wire 38 to the insulated stud 26 to which lighter element 2! is secured disposed contiguous to pocket 22, also secured to ground stud: 25. Secured to the extreme forward end of wall extension 2a by stud 39 is the bimetallic arm 40 extending rearwardly and having secured thereto the extension arm 4| extending rearwardly'be yond the plunger 42 and in the normal position of same below the lug 43 releasably engaging same and passing out through a perforation 44 in plate 45 and provided with a head 46, said plunger recessed at 42a along its inner edge to provide clearance for bellcrank lever l9 and to actuate same back and forth-intheup and down movements of the plunger, said plate 45 formed with a perforate or grille partition 49'. Plunger 42 operates through a guide bracket "L secured to wall 2 and is provided with the encircling spring 48 between bracket 5i andplunger-pin52. When the plunger is manually depressed it contacts insulated block' ll ofswitch arm 33 causing contacts 36, 34 of switch arms 3|, 33 to engage and through the transformer to energize the lighting element.

This lights'the cigarette whichhas passed from the hopper through the front opening therein, urged by the delivery plate l2, upon the receiver and ash tray 23 contiguous to'the lighter element .21. The cigarette 23b now has its lighted-"end laterally disposed beyond-the-ash tray proper but directly over the pocket 22 into'which sparksor 'ashes'may fall, air circulation about the lighted end insuring good combustion. Should the cigarette not be manually removedun'tilit burns up to the wallof theashtray it will be extinguished thereby. The slots in grille 49 admit air to the cigarette while it is burning. As the plunger 42 moves downwardly itmoves the bellcrank lever which moves the delivery plate which ejects a cigarette which rides over pin [6 and falls upon the tray or support. The lighting element not only lights the cigarette but also heats'and expands the bimetallic arm 40 which disengages the plunger from same. The spring 48 now returns the plunger to normal position and through bellcrank lever repositions the delivery plate. Should it at any time be necessary or desired to disengage the extension arm from the plunger this may be done manually by means of head 46.

Referring now to Figs. 11, 12 and 14 a modification is shown adapted particularly for use on automobiles and" the like; The cigarette dispenser and lighter hereshown is adapted for application to the dash of the vehicle in easy convenient location for the occupants of the front seat. The dash 53 is partly cut away to provide for insertion and support of the housing havingsidewalls 54, 55, top wall 56, rear wall 51, base wall 5&- partially cut away to provide for removable reception of the ash tray 59 of Figs. '7 and '8: Extending transversely of the housing from side wall to side wall is a hinge pin 60 of door 6-1 provided with operatingrhandle 6-2 and spring-catch 63 adapted the wide open positionof door Bl toiengage withthe topwall 5.6:to yieldingly anchor-' thedoor.

The hopper may bereadily-filledi with the door Grin wide open'pos'i'tion- Adoor'63a covers the open front face of the-hopper as well-asencasing door 6| in its closed position and is forme'd with integral lateral wings: 64'- mounted on the screws 65 secured to theihopp'er side walls. Within: the hopper is-a partitionfifizsimilar to thepartition l0 o'f'Figs. 1a and 6-- and disposed thereupon is the angular deliver-y platelll connected by spring 61 to hook 6 7a secured to wall 51, sa'i'dplate '61 formed with spaced ears 68, 68*extendingthrough an elongated-slot59 in sidewall 54, said ears engaged by 'a substantially U-shaped lever 10 contiguous -'to wall 54; said lever pivotally-secured by-pin' 12 to th'e hop'pe'r and connected 'byreturn spring 13110 a hook l t-secured to wall 54. The end of lever lo rem'ote fromspring B -is bent at an angle to engage the notched portion 15 of actuating plunger Hi, operativelysecured for axial movement in guidesflTcarriedby'the hopper wall,

, and extending beyond the front end' of the hopper, the rear end 'of said plungercarrying a pin 18 to limit'the plunger-movement in-one direction by engagement with one guide 11-, as shown in Fig. 12, said plunger formed also with spaced notches T9; for releas'able engagement with the extension arm 8| carried by therbimetallicarm 82'- disposed-alongside they-lighting element 83 and secured by screw-'84 to the hopper" wall.

Anang'le piece 85 s'w'eatedor otherwise secured to the hopperwall 54' carries the; switch block .86

carrying the insulated switchiarm 8'1 engagingthe screw stud 887orr'the likesecuredto wall 54', said stud beingconnected'to theilead 89 to the battery of the vehicle. The connection to the vehicle battery is; like other" parts of the device, so placed as to be readily accessible for connection'tothe hopper, for tightenin'gor for removal or replacement.

Switch arm 8T'i's provided with contact point 90 normally spaced from contact" point 9'! of. the resilient switch arm 92 also'carried'by the switch block, said arm,92' beyond contact pointlll carrying-a block 93in the path of. movement of lever T0 which 'upon engaging said block'moves arm 92 to-dottedline-position, Fig; 11; engaging'contac't's 9|, 9! The lighting element 83'isgrounded. to stud 94 carried by-the wall 54" and connected to stud 84 so that engagement of contacts 9!, 90 comp1ete's'thecircuit from theb'att'ery'to thesaid element. Referring again to the hinge pin 60 same carries one end of the positioning plate 95 within the hopper, said plate extending forwardly and downwardly and being secured to the pin 96 below which and connecting the walls 54, 55 is the pin 91 spaced slightlyfrom the end of the delivery plate 61 in the forward position of same. The pin 91 is quite similar to the pin I6 of Fig. 6. In operation the hopper is filled by opening the doors 6I, 63a and depositing the cigarettes upon partition 66 and delivery plate 61. The doors may nowbe closed. By pushing the plunger 16 inwardly the extension arm 8|, normally bearing against a notched portion thereof, prevents re: turn of the plunger. At the same time the lever 10 ismoved upon pin 12 to urge the plate 61 forwardly expanding return spring 13 and moving the foremost cigarette forwardly, up and over the pin 91, to gravitate into the tray 59 with one end disposed adjacent the igniting or lighter element. The movement of lever 10 has caused it to engage the block 93 carried by the switch arm 92 and to move that arm tocause the contact points 9!, 90 to engage thus completing the electric circuit to energize the element 83 which lights the cigarette. The bimetallic arm is thus heated and caused to expand to dotted line position, Fig. 11, and release the lever 10 which will then be retracted by spring 13 permitting the contacts 9I, 90 to separate and breaking the circuit to the element 83. The delivery plate has also been returned to normal position by lever I movement and the plunger 16 repositioned. Rattle of the moving parts has been prevented by the spring 61'.

Referring now to Fig. 13 a modified form is provided. The plunger 98 operates through the guide sleeve 09 secured to the hopper wall 54', the spring I00 encircling the plunger has one end received upon sleeve 99 while the opposite end engages a lever IOI perforated to receive the plunger and rest upon the spring, said lever formed with an angularly disposed heel I02 pivotally connected to the hopper. This form operates in the same manner as the form shown in Fig. 6 and previously described, this form having the operating lever extending upwardly rather than forwardly, and being depressed manually.

Referring now to Figs. 15 to 20 inclusive a further modified form of cigarette container, dispenser and lighter is disclosed adapted for automobile and like use also adapted for application to the vehicle dash. A hopper is here provided having side walls I03, I04 connected by a rear wall I05, the rear wall at a point well above the base line being .engaged by a strip which is inclined forwardly and downwardly to form the inclined' floor I06 terminating in the recessed forward edge I01 from each side of which an arm I08 depends that support the removable ashtray I09 of the same construction as the tray 23, Fig. 7. The forward ends of the side walls each terminate in a lateral flange H0 connected by the top flange I II, the flange IIO of side wall I04 being formed with an elongated slot I I 2 through which the angular operating lever II3 extends having a cam shaped heel II4 formed with a hook I I5 engaged by return spring I I6 connected to the ear II1 struck from side wall I04. The lever I I3 extends alongside the outer face of wall I04 in slight spaced relation thereto and contiguous to the heel I I4 is curved slightly inwardly and terminates in the integral link II8 pivotally connected at its lower end by stud II9 to the wall, the upper end of said link carrying a long pin I20 that extends through an arcuate slot I2I in the wall I04, said pin extending inwardly but beneath the floor I06 and substantially centrally thereof engaged by the prongs of a coupling I22 extending through a floor perforation I23, said coupling engaging the delivery plate I24 disposed upon said floor and movable back and forth thereupon.

Secured to the lever II3 by rivets I25 between its heel end and forward end is the bimetallic piece I26 disposed between said lever and the wall in a position immediately adjacent the lighting element I21 which is arranged adjacent a perforation I28 in the wall, said bimetallic piece in one position in engagement with the lower notched end of the lug I29 formed upon the wall adjacent flange IIO, the normal lever position, however, being its raised position shown in Fig. 17 at the upper end of the flange slotI I2, slightly above the lighting element. The heel of lever H3 is in engagement with the block I30 of switch arm I3I carried by switch block I32 that also carries the switch arm I33 the free end of which is adapted for engagement with the contact point I34 of arm I3I in the depressed position of the latter thus at that time energizing the lighting element. In this form a resistor I35, carried by insulated stud I36 secured to the wall, is in circuit with the lighting element to reduce the current thereto so that a small type element may here be employed which will cool more quickly than the elements ordinarily used.

A positioning plate I31 similar to the plate I4, Fig. 6 is provided in the hopper. The hopper is received in a substantially U-shaped casing having side walls I38, I39 each formed with a flange I38a and top wall I40, the forward edge thereof being spaced inwardly from the corresponding edges of the side walls to provide clearance for the door I4I that in normal position closes the space between the top and side flanges of the hopper, said door engaged and carried by the arms I 42 pivotally secured to the hopper side walls. The operation is very similar to that of the types previously described. To fill the hopper the door MI is moved rearwardly to the dotted line position, Fig. 15 clearing the hopper. The casing is then moved forwardly manually to clear the positioning plate I31 exposing the interior of the hopper and permitting the fill. The casing is then moved. again to normal position. To deliver and light a cigarette the lever H3 is manually moved downwardly from its normal position, Fig. 17, past the notch of lug I29 an then released.

The bimetallic plate I26 will then retain it in this position. This movement has caused lever heel II 4 to close the lighting element circuit energizing the element which will heat the bimetallic plate I26 expanding the same and so disengagingthe bimetallic plate from the: lug notch to allow the spring II6 to return the lever to normal position. The link IIS and connections, during this period, have ejected a cigarette I43, Fig. 15, upon the ash tray adjacent the lighting element and lighted it. The lever in raised normal position is clear of the lighting element and will cool very readily so that successive operations may be cause without delay and in an eflicient manner. The hopper side walls slide on flanges I38a of the casing.

Referring now to Figs. 21 to 24 inclusive another type of cigarette container, dispenser and lighter is shown for application to the vehicle dash. This is a very compact type occupying but very little space and without provision of an ash tray; It is applied tothe-dash which is cutaway to: permit application ofthe support bracket l 54 thatcarriesthe hopper havingside Walls I45, I46; rear wall 46a,:the -'former having flanges 141 I48 respectively-theelattentogether with cover: plate M9: protecting" the actuating mechanism arranged upon wall I46, which at its'for-ward-end is provided with thearcuate flange- I59 formed with elongated perforation I i throughwhich the angular lever l52- extends that carries the bimetallic. arm'- i 53=- forreleasable engagement withithe notched lug I'54 secured towall M'Econtiguousg thereto, said arml53 adjacent the lighting elementr i55 disposed at wall perforation 156:1 adjacent the upturned portions i5! of one end of housing partition .1 58 receiving thereupon thevdelivery' plate: r59 spaced beneath: the positioning plate H50? at the forward end of the hopper. A connectinglli'nk iii! 'fulcrumed. to pin Hi2; carried by partition 58 engages spaced lugs of deliverypl'ate |59 that extend through a perforation I 64: in partition 158-.

The saidlink 61 extends through a small perforation: in. wall [46: and engages the slotted portion. |-65 of'lever LEE pivoted at l66 to said wall; said lever engaged by: return spring [67 secured 'to: said wall, said"' spring yieldingly retaining lever 152m normal raised position disengaged from the notched lug iii. Switch arms 168;169carried by block 119 each carry a contact point IJ'H Which: points are yieldingly separated. Switch arm 69 carries block HE for engagement with the lever l52'in-the operative or lowermost position of: sam'e to engage contactpoints i'ii with" eachother' closingthe electric circuit to the lighting element. A resistor I13 connected to switch: arm I68 is connected' to the stud post PM to which one end' of the lead H5" is secured that leads'to the battery of' the vehicle. The hopper is slidably received incover support He secured in the dash and when moved thereintocovers the top. of the hopperwhich when moved forwardly may'be filled with cigarettes which are disposed upon partition I58 and plate I59. The cigarettes when released singly from the hopper move over the. pin I217. and-"lodge in the forward end of the partition and. are therezretainedby the ends i5? immediately adjacent: the lighting element. A lug I'IB is pressed 'downwardlyfrom the cover I16 for engagement with: the rear Wall idea of the hopperto .limit the extent of the forward'or outward movementJof' the hopper to prevent separation of same from the cover; The sliding hopper is pulled forward sumciently to eXpose-its'interior whenit'is desired to fill it with cigarettes. invention may-beconsidered a further developmentofmy' application for patent on single delivery cigarette dispensers, Serial No. 743,349; fiiediAprilt23, 1947:, which matured. into Patent No. 2,431,219;

What iscl'aimect is:

l. Ina cigarette. dispenser and lighter, a casing having side. walls and atop wall, the forward edge. of. saidvtopi wallspaced inwardly from the This corresponding edges of said sidewalls, a hopper having sidewalls and a rear wall; lateral fianges terminatingsaidhopper side walls, atop-flange connecting said-lateral flanges, a-door normally closing the space between said laterai and top. flanges; support arms for saiddoor secured nto saidhopper side -walls,inwardiy' disposed-flanges for said casing'side Walls 'slid'a-bl-y carryingsaid hopper; and.. cigarette igniting and delivery mechanism associated with said hopper.

2. In a: cigarette dispenser and lighter for automobiles; a coversupportarranged in a perforation" in the automobile dash; a hopper having side walls and arear" wall slida-bly received in said cover-support, said hopper in one position being-open at the top and in a-second position being-closed atthe top by -said'cover support; a lug depending from said cover-support for engagement with saidhopper rear wall in" oneposition of sai'd hopper, an arcuate flangeat the forward endof one hopper side wall, cigarette delivery andigniting meansassocia-ted with said hopper, and energizing means for said delivery and igniting means associated-With one hopper side wall, said energizingmeans including'an operating lever extending along said last named hopper side wall and through said arcuate flange;

3. Ina cigarette dispenser andlighter, a perforate hopper; anotclied lugcarried thereby, an igniting element carried by said hopper contiguous to the perforation therein; cigarette delivery mechanism in said hopper, cigarette supporting means in saidhopper contiguous" tothe perforate portion thereof and tosaid delivery mechanism, actuating means for said delivery mechanism associated" withsaid' hopper, said means including a lever' extendingalongone face of said hopper normall'y'irr upwardly spaced relation to said igniting element; a spring'yielding-ly retaining said'lever'inits upward position; switch means operative by said lever to energize said igniting element, said.- lever in an alteredoperative position-disposed directly opposite said igniting element, and a bimetallicpiece carried by said lever engaging said lug notch in the altered position of said lever, said bimetallic piece when heated by said. igniting element releasing said lever fromsaid lugn'ot'ch.

PETER J ZANARDO.

REFERENCES CITED The. following. references are. of. record in the filev ofthis patent UNITED STATESzz-PATENTTS Number Name Date.

1,777,813 Stoll- Oct. 7, 1930 1,997,796 Jay Apr: 16, 1935 2,216,675 Prescott'et al. Oct.- 1, 1940 2,277,451 Paseka- Mar.- 24, 1942 2,301,305 Mayer Nov. 10; 1942 2,342,747 Mayer Feb. 29, I944- 2,431,219' Zanardo Nov. 18, 1947 

